Blackstone 2025 Special Town Meeting: 6 Warrant Articles Explained

📝 This article is part of a special Small Town Post series where we’ll be breaking down Blackstone’s Town Meetings—what’s on the warrant, what the budget means, and how it all impacts you. Our goal is to keep things clear, local, and easy to understand so more residents can feel informed and empowered to take part.

Your Guide to the Upcoming Special Town Meeting on May 27 at 7:00 PM

May 27th is an important day for our town, with two Town Meetings taking place at the Blackstone-Millville Regional Molony-Sullivan School Auditorium. It’s crucial to understand the difference between these meetings:

• Special Town Meeting: 7:00 PM – This meeting addresses specific, often time-sensitive issues that need attention outside of the regular Annual Town Meeting cycle.
• Annual Town Meeting: 7:30 PM – This is the town’s primary legislative meeting where the budget for the upcoming year is typically voted on, along with other regular town business.

This article focuses on the Special Town Meeting warrant, outlining the key issues you’ll be voting on before the Annual Town Meeting begins. Your informed participation is essential!

Here’s a breakdown of the Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles:

Article 1: Snow and Ice Account Deficit

• What it’s about: This article asks the town to allocate $67,222.26 to cover a deficit in the snow and ice removal budget from the past winter. This means the town spent more than was budgeted on keeping our roads safe during winter weather. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Snow and ice removal is a critical public safety service in Blackstone. Addressing this deficit ensures the town can continue to provide this essential service without financial strain and be prepared for future winter seasons.
• Impact: A “Yes” vote authorizes the town to balance its budget and continue to fund essential snow and ice removal services in the future. A “No” vote could lead to financial challenges for the town and potentially impact future winter road maintenance. A 2/3rds vote is required for this article to pass.

Article 2: Prior Year Bill – Commercial Valuation Services

• What it’s about: This article proposes allocating $980.00 to pay a bill from a previous year to Vision Government Solutions for commercial property valuation services that were already provided. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Paying outstanding bills is a matter of responsible financial management and maintains the town’s credibility with vendors. Failing to pay for services already rendered can harm the town’s reputation and potentially lead to difficulties in securing services in the future.
• Impact: Voting “Yes” ensures the town meets its financial obligations for services already received. Voting “No” would leave this bill unpaid, which could negatively affect the town’s relationships with vendors. A 9/10ths vote is required for this article to pass.

Article 3: Prior Year Bill – Parts to USA Bluebook

• What it’s about: This article asks to allocate $82.30 to pay a bill from a previous fiscal year for parts purchased from USA Bluebook by the Water Department. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Even small outstanding bills need to be addressed to ensure accurate financial records and maintain good standing with suppliers. This allows the Water Department to continue obtaining necessary parts for its operations.
• Impact: A “Yes” vote allows the Water Department to settle this outstanding bill for necessary parts. A “No” vote means this small debt would remain unpaid. A 9/10ths vote is required for this article to pass.

Article 4: Prior Year Bill – Supplies to Leeway

• What it’s about: This article proposes allocating $63.90 to pay a bill from a previous fiscal year for supplies bought from Leeway by the Public Works Department. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Paying for supplies already used by the Public Works Department is essential for maintaining proper accounting and ensuring the department can continue to acquire necessary materials for their work in maintaining our town’s infrastructure.
• Impact: Voting “Yes” allows the Public Works Department to pay for supplies they have already received and used. Voting “No” would leave this small bill unpaid. A 9/10ths vote is required for this article to pass.

Article 5: Prior Year Bill – Vehicle Repairs to Tellstone Garage

• What it’s about: This article asks to allocate $1,171.09 to pay a prior year bill to Tellstone Garage for repairs done to a police cruiser. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Ensuring that vehicles, especially emergency vehicles like police cruisers, are properly maintained is crucial for public safety. Paying for these past repairs ensures the town fulfills its financial responsibility for this essential service.
• Impact: A “Yes” vote ensures that the town pays for necessary repairs to a police vehicle. Voting “No” would leave this bill unpaid. A 9/10ths vote is required for this article to pass.

Article 6: Prior Year Bill – Stormwater Bylaw Review

• What it’s about: This article proposes allocating $534.00 to pay a bill from a previous fiscal year to Tetra Tech for their work in reviewing the town’s Stormwater Bylaw for the Planning Board. Funded from free cash.
• Why it’s important: Stormwater management is vital for protecting our environment, preventing flooding, and ensuring the health of our waterways. Paying for the review of the Stormwater Bylaw demonstrates the town’s commitment to these important environmental considerations and ensures those who provided the service are compensated.
• Impact: Voting “Yes” ensures that the town pays for this professional service that helps protect our environment and manage stormwater effectively. Voting “No” would leave this bill unpaid. A 9/10ths vote is required for this article to pass.

Your Opportunity to be Heard

Understanding these articles is the first step towards active participation in our town’s governance. Your vote on Tuesday, May 27th, starting at 7:00 PM for the Special Town Meeting, has a real impact on our community.

But wait, you can ask questions before the Town Meeting!

If you have any questions about these articles, please attend the Finance Committee public hearing on Monday, May 12th at 6:30PM to get more information before the Town Meeting. We encourage all registered voters to attend and make their voices heard!

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🔗 Also in this series:

• Town Meeting 101: What Every Blackstone Voter Needs to Know Before May 27
• Blackstone Finance Committee Recap: 2026 Budget Discussions, Department Requests & What Happens Next
• Blackstone Town Meeting Warrant 2025: Article-by-Article Breakdown

This summary is based on our review of the Special Town Meeting Warrant. We’ve worked hard to provide accurate information, so if you spot any errors, please let us know, and we’ll fix them. We welcome your comments and questions below.